Don Zuarin Friendship

Good day, dear AI – write me another nice text about our likeable fellow retailer on the Baltic coast… That’s more or less how this could start, but nobody can stand all that empty marketing waffle. At least I can’t. So here’s the personal version instead, and you’ll just have to bear with me!

Steffen Brinkmann From Schwerin: The Driving Force Behind the Don Zuarin Brand

The Friendship cigars are a joint project by Steffen Brinkmann (BRINKMANNfinest) and Ralf Splettstößer (Loch Mor Spirits). The two introduced this series in March 2026, and since June 2026 the two vitolas have naturally also been available from us. The cigars bear the name Friendship as a symbol of shared enjoyment and camaraderie among cigar enthusiasts. For the wrapper, the pair use an Ecuador Colorado, while the binder is a tobacco from Nicaragua. The filler consists of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.

Friendship Cigars: A Northern German Brand With Nicaraguan Craftsmanship

I’ve just lit up a 166x56 FT. Normally, this format would probably be classified as a Gordo. By the way, FT stands for Flag Tail, the visually appealing little “pig tail” found at the head of every cigar in this series. In general, these formats are too substantial for my taste and, above all, too thick. For some reason, however, this cigar has really won me over. It starts out pleasantly mild and develops into a highly aromatic and characterful smoke without becoming peppery or overly strong. Thankfully, notes of chocolate, roasted aromas, and wood can be detected. These very flavorful cigars from Nicaragua are a welcome addition to our portfolio.

The Origins of Don Zuarin Cigars

The Don Zuarin cigars are the flagship private label of our fellow retailer Steffen Brinkmann from Schwerin, whom we have met at various trade events. It’s always a pleasure to have a chat with him – be sure to pay him a visit if you find yourself in the far north! He is the owner of the well-known Tobaccohouse Brinkmann, where, alongside an extensive range of cigars, he also offers a very broad selection of spirits. As a result, visitors can also sample various Don Zuarin rums. He developed his first cigar lines together with Nicaraguan cigar manufacturer Kurt Brandt back in 2022. Since then, he has significantly expanded his portfolio under his own brand name, whose products enjoy great popularity throughout Germany. Incidentally, the name Zuarin traces back to the Slavic origins of Schwerin and roughly translates as “place of animals.” Steffen’s father was already established in the region and worked as an operations manager at the tobacco-processing VEB Unitas in the former GDR, which is where his passion for tobacco began.